Land use pressures in Nile Valley

The UCL ISR, part of the UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, is concerned with the globally sustainable use of natural resources. The photographic competitionwas held under the theme 'natural resources in a human world' and was open to all UCL staff and students. The judging panel, led by Mark Edwards, one of the most widely published photographers in the world and creator of the Hard Rain Project, looked for striking images capturing the interaction, both good and bad, between people and the planet.

Elizabeth’s photograph, entitled ‘Egypt’s Lifeline’, was taken in a hot air balloon high above the Nile floodplain in central Egypt and depicts the conflict between agricultural irrigation and demographic pressures in rural Egypt. Despite significant economic growth in Egypt over the last few decades, inequality is still increasing between urban and rural areas. Although the Nile floodplain is extremely fertile, with some areas undergoing cropping twice or even three times a year, agriculture continues to be significantly limited by excessive drainage and high salinity exacerbated by climate change, so that rural communities remain considerably deprived.

Elizabeth’s winning image, as well as a short list of highly commended entries, will be on display in UCL Central House (Room G01) from 27th February to 6th March 2013 and the UCL Cloisters from 18th to 22nd March 2013.